Today I learned a lesson about reading the fine print. I turned on Channel 9 at 9 o’clock, all excited to watch Traces of the Trade (the documentary on the largest slave-trading family in United States history, which I wrote about in in an earlier post). Instead, KETC was airing a really cool Frontline episode called “Jesus in China.” Not a waste of time, by any means, but not what I was expecting.

First, let me apologize if I led anyone else into this same frustrating cul-de-sac (I don’t want to call it a dead end, since the Frontline program was great). I did a bit of digging and learned that “Traces of the Trade” is only airing on KETC HD, not on the regular KETC (Channel 9). According to the PBS website, a DVD version of the documentary will be available for purchase soon. It also appears to be available now…

According to the Episcopal News Service, “Traces of the Trade” will air on the PBS show POV tonight.  I have been hearing good “buzz” about this documentary ever since it was previewed at the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2006, but I have not had an opportunity to see it myself.  I believe it will air tonight at 9:00.  I hope to post more on the topic after seeing it and would encourage readers to respond to it here (in the comments section) if they so desire.  Here’s part of the ENS story for those who haven’t heard about the documentary:

“Traces” […] tells the story of the DeWolf family, the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history and also a prominent part of the Episcopal Church in Rhode Island. James DeWolf Perry was the 18th Presiding Bishop.

In the film, Katrina Browne, a DeWolf descendant and the documentary’s producer…